Concerns for social funding

Tasmania’s community sector is concerned about the future of a number of social services.

A number of national partnerships between the Commonwealth and Tasmania are due to expire on June 30.

The future of partnerships including; a vocational education skills deal to improve the quality of training, a housing and homelessness agreement, and a deal ensuring pay equity for Social and Community Services Sector employees, are due to expire.

A $17.2 million deal to provide 600 hours of free kindergarten in government schools is also due to expire in December.

The federal government has not given any commitment to the future of the agreements.

Ahead of the May federal budget community organisations have raised concerns about funding.

TasCOSS chief executive Kym Goodes called on the government to “prioritise an adequate social security system”.

“The Federal Budget in May is about choices and priorities,” she said.

Also seeking more funding in this year’s federal budget is Meals on Wheels.

TasCOSS chief executive Kym Goodes said the federal budget should prioritise social services.

The organisation’s acting chief executive for Tasmania, Gail Carroll, said an increase in funding would “enable the service to be more sustainable in the future”.

The organisation has asked for $5 million from the federal government to maintain services.

Whatever the outcome of the budget, Mrs Carroll says “the meals will continue”.

Tasmania’s Community Legal Centres is also facing a $500,000 federal funding cut.